Artesia Councilmember and former Mayor Melissa Ramoso (speaking at the podium) flanked by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Southern California elected leaders. She and other Fil-Am officials have joined calls to end ICE raids. CONTRIBUTED
LOS ANGELES – When Artesia Councilmember and former Mayor Melissa Ramoso received an invitation from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to join a coalition of Southern California mayors and elected officials advocating for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, she didn’t expect to speak at the podium.
“I saw the list and realized I was the only Filipino and Asian American attending, so I knew I had to be there. There was a set list of mayors to speak, but Mayor Bass asked all of us to introduce ourselves and share if ICE had come to our city,” Ramoso said.
A longtime community advocate and experienced leader, Ramoso took the opportunity to speak on behalf of her constituents.
“A scared young Artesia leader texted me at midnight the night before. I decided to use my moment at the podium to speak for her and the youth in my community. Many residents in my city are terrified. So many people don’t have a platform to be heard, so I speak up and fight for them,” she explained.
Melissa Ramoso (left) with LA Mayor Karen Bass | CONTRIBUTED
Ramoso emphasized the urgency of her role as an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leader.
“It was even more imperative for me to call on my fellow community leaders to stand up and address the lack of humanity and due process in these raids,” she added. “We need to support each other, regardless of ethnicity, and call for an end to the militarization of California streets. This is a waste of taxpayers’ money, and I trust our local law enforcement to handle peaceful protests effectively.”
Protests have been ongoing across Los Angeles since June 6, when ICE agents conducted a series of raids, detaining dozens of people.
Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night’s immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
INQUIRER.NET USA photo by Joe Cobilla
President Trump initially federalized 2,000 National Guard troops, ordering them to Los Angeles. This move was met with criticism from Mayor Bass, California Governor Gavin Newsom and other local officials, who argued it would only escalate tensions.
On June 9, Trump ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and deployed 700 US Marines to protect federal facilities. Pentagon officials estimated the operation would cost approximately $134 million.
Members of the California National Guard conduct exercises after being deployed to the Los Angeles protests Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Los Alamitos, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Mayor Bass, along with more than 20 other local leaders, condemned the escalation of federal immigration enforcement. These raids, particularly targeting workers and families at locations like Home Depot, were described as designed not to protect public safety, but to instill fear and division.
The coalition of leaders, united in their opposition to federal sweeps, called for the immediate withdrawal of US Marines and the National Guard from local neighborhoods.
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, tear families apart, and deploy troops to our streets, you’re not keeping anyone safe – you’re spreading fear and panic,” Bass said. “These raids must stop.”
Ramoso echoed these sentiments, discussing the emotional toll on immigrant communities.
“The way these raids are conducted instills fear and anger. At a faith-led rally in Los Angeles, Pilipino Workers Center’s Executive Director Aquilina Soriano spoke for the community, and we showed solidarity with others who are living through the same experience,” she shared.
Ramoso also stressed the need for broader ethnic solidarity, urging AANHPI leaders to join their Latino counterparts in denouncing the raids.
“I stand in solidarity with my Latino elected officials, but I also call on my fellow AANHPI leaders, and people of all ethnicities, to speak up,” she added. “We must oppose the politicization of California and the militarization of our streets.”
Though Ramoso clarified that her remarks represent her personal stance and not the official position of Artesia, she emphasized the importance of due process.
“People look to me to speak up, and I will do so without jeopardizing the trust I have with residents in my community. With more than 20 years of experience as a legislative staffer and public official, I’ve learned that there’s always a process for matters like immigration. We are not seeing that in these ICE raids. The lack of humanity is deafening,” Ramoso said.
Fil-Am officials oppose ICE raids, military presence
Other Filipino American leaders joined the calls to end the raids and military presence. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria expressed concern over a federal immigration operation that took place at two popular eateries in South Park. The raids at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta sparked immediate backlash.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria | FILE PHOTO (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
“Like many San Diegans, I was deeply upset by the immigration enforcement operation last Friday night,” Gloria said. “Federal actions like these are supposed to ensure safety, but they do the opposite — they breed fear.”
Former Sierra Madre Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi also voiced her concerns, despite her city’s lower demographic risk of being targeted. “Although Sierra Madre may not be a primary target, I’m deeply worried about the impact of these raids on our communities,” she said.
Former Sierra Madre Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi | Photo from Rachelle Arizmendi/Facebook
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, also Filipino American, condemned the raids in a statement, calling them “cruel” and an affront to the city’s values. “These raids tear families apart and go against the principles we stand for,” Mejia said. He added that his office would request information from the LAPD to assess the financial impact of the ICE operations.
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia | Photo from the City of Los Angeles website
“We need to understand how these raids are using city resources, especially considering Los Angeles’ Sanctuary City ordinance,” Mejia noted.
In addition to calling for an end to the raids, the coalition of mayors demanded that federal leaders pursue humane, community-centered immigration reform. Mayor Bass reaffirmed her commitment to protect residents from what she described as “a national experiment in fear.”
“The White House has provoked this,” Bass said. “We don’t know why, but it seems like we are part of an experiment to see how far the federal government can go in taking power from local authorities.”
Earlier this week, the Democratic Mayors Association, which represents 500 current and former mayors, and US Conference of Mayors President Andrew Ginther, also weighed in. They criticized the deployment of the National Guard, asserting that it only created chaos.
“The streets of American cities are no place for the U.S. military. Law enforcement is a local responsibility, and America’s mayors stand with Mayor Bass,” Ginther said. “Protest is a bedrock of our democracy, but violence and destruction cannot be tolerated.”
Ramoso, who serves as an external member of the Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) Coalition, said that the coalition is on high alert, and many local nonprofits, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), are coordinating rapid response efforts.
Ramoso urged everyone, regardless of immigration status or ethnicity, to “know your rights.” She encouraged the public to educate themselves and share this information with others, especially in case of an ICE encounter. “If you see ICE in your community, document it and report it to the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network at (888) 624-4752,” she advised.
